I-540 Trek Can Be Bumpy For Motorists

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DURHAM, N.C. — The idea: Fix a dip on Interstate 540 at Lumley Road where pavement settled over drainage pipes. The fact: according to dozens of drivers, the fix turned out to be more of a mess. What's supposed to be a straight white line now looks like a twisted ribbon.

"It's like a roller-coaster ride, you know," said one driver. "Going over the bumps, it has you just bouncing."

"It's like riding over a washboard," said another driver. "I hope they do something, man. It's worse than it was before they did it the first time."

Department of Transportation engineer Dave Byrd has driven the stretch, and he also compared it to a washboard. He is now overseeing the I-540 fix.

"We're going to have our contractor come out and do the corrective work at no cost to the department," said Byrd.

That means it'll be done at no cost to taxpayers. The DOT said C.C. Mangum, the pavement contractor, agreed to tear up the bumpy pavement and redo the job.

A few weeks ago, drivers faced lane closures, detours and delays. That's coming up again soon. But this time, engineers hope there's no roller coaster or washboard left behind.

Repaving will cost the contractor at least another $25,000. The work will begin after the Labor Day weekend.